A cut above (UK public sector spending cuts)

Article Type: Abstracts From: Human Resource Management International Digest, Volume 18, Issue 7

PickardJ. Reference:People Management (UK), 6 May 2010, Start page: 18, No. of pages: 6

Interviews a number of UK public sector managers about the cuts that they expect to see in public sector finances and the impact that these might have on jobs and services. Reports that many are optimistic that there are changes that can be made to the ways that public services are delivered that will result in large savings. Focuses on the changes that could be made to public sector human resource management, discussing how these reflect the ways in which local service delivery is changing and the increasing co-operation between local authorities on shared services. Also discusses how projects within the National Health Service that have shown that it is possible to cut costs and maintain/improve services. Lastly, describes successful central government initiatives, such as the successful shared service centre for human resources that has been developed at the Department for Work and Pensions. Briefly considers if there is a danger that the number of people employed in the public sector could get too small to deliver effective services. A linked article gives the views of an anonymous local authority HR director on how savings can be made to local government, including discussion of the different human resource models that are being adopted within the public sector. ISSN: 1358-6297 Reference:39AN618

Keywords: Local government, Human resource management, Cost reduction, United Kingdom